Readers Theater All Year

Building Leaders and Creators

Discover
Readers Theater Made Easy

  • Motivate Students
  • Enjoy Community
  • Transform Lives

FREE SCRIPTS

over 50 scripts
"limited lunchbox" 

SCRIPT BUFFET

319 scripts
"all-you-can-eat"

CLICK HERE

xHELPFUL INFO

answers, ideas, techniques, tips, & tools for success

CLICK HERE

trustworthy scripts

Search
Pin It

Kids Save Shad! (R = 1)

publication date: May 10, 2012
 | 
author/source: Carol Montgomery

KidsSaveShadEnvironmental science for primary students?  Why not?  "Kids Save Shad!"--a choral readers theater--is a shorter simplified version of our three part series "Students Save Shad!" (for older students).  This science script is complete in one script, but is still based on the non-fiction book Let the River Run Silver Again.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans and unit studies, "Kids Save Shad," is great for primary level readers.  Although this is a simplified version of the story, it still appeals to ESL and struggling students because it's true.  It shows how regular kids can make a difference.


TIME:  a little over 3 minutes    CAST:  3-4+ (3-4 choruses)     TONE:  educational, light   READABILITY:  grade 1.0  (The part of the Experts has the hardest part--probably closer to grade 2.)

Here is an excerpt from this free, environmental Readers Theater script for primary level readers:


Kids Save Shad!
A Choral Readers Theater
By Carol Montgomery ©2012


Experts:  Today’s kids are helping solve today’s problems.  One of those problems is saving our rivers and fish that live there.  One kind of fish kids are saving is called American shad.

Shad A:  We are shad.  We are a big, silver fish.  We have a row of dark spots on our sides.  But, we won’t show them to you now!

Shad B:  We hatch from eggs in a river.  Then we swim to the ocean.  Three to six years later we return to the same river to lay eggs.

Shad A:   It is a very hard trip.  Some of us get eaten.

Shad B:  Yikes!

Shad A:  But, not ALL of us get eaten.

Shad B:  Oh, good!

Experts:  And, that’s not the only problem.  Shad have had a hard time because of too much fishing and polluted rivers.  Plus, dams often blocked their way back home.

Shad A & B:  Sad shad.  Too bad.

Experts:  Students in schools have helped save shad, though.  They will share their story now.

Students:  First, we were given shad eggs to raise.  The eggs looked like pearls.  Then, they looked like two eyes and a wiggle.

Shad A & B: 
Awwww...how cute!

Students:   We had to keep the water cool and clean.  When the baby fish were about five days old we went to the river.  We took buckets of baby fish and cups. 

Shad A & B:  No!  Don’t tell me you were going to DRINK the baby shad fish!

Students:  No, that’s silly.  We dipped our cups in the buckets of baby fish.  And then.....

Shad A & B:  No!  You didn’t plant those babies with corn seeds, did you?

Students:  No, Pilgrims planted corn seeds with fish--not us.

Shad A & B:  Oh, good.

Students:  We dipped our cups in the buckets of baby fish.  And then, we set them free in the river!

Shad A & B:  Hooray!  Freedom!

Experts:  And a few years later, those babies came back to the river! The baby fish had special marks on their ear bones.  Those marks were seen. The baby shad had grown up and come back to lay their eggs.
(Continued...)

***Click on the PDF link below to see the full printable version of the free environmental science script, "Kids Save Shad!"

Download the PDF "Kids Save Shad!", a free environmental Readers Theater script for grades 1, 2, 3, ESL, and families interested in protecting our environment--especially the waterways (e.g., rivers, streams, Chesapeake Bay).




Readers Theater All Year™ LLC builds leaders and creators for positive influence through an inexpensive, easy, flexible system.  Readers Theater All Year™ LLC curriculum services provides a caring community for using and creating Readers Theater scripts for families, classrooms, homeschools, camps, and drama clubs.

Praise from Teachers

...Keep doing what you are doing.  There are not enough quality scripts available for children and teens.  So many are inappropriate from a parent's perspective.  As a teacher I want to also build character and integrity while I teach a subject.  Why can't drama build up, inspire and be thought provoking?...Anyway, keep doing what you're doing...we need all the help we can get!
Jen H., Drama teacher

> ...I have been teaching for 35 years. RT has been part of my education journey for the majority of that time. Initially my experience with it was as a performance genre in the Drama Curriculum. Now I use it across the curriculum - a wonderful high motivation strategy in the language program - particularly reading - and so much more as you would know. I was drawn to your 'community' by the idea of leadership... I think what you're doing is wonderful..."
Graham B. Former primary teacher (now a Visual Art and Drama specialist)

Readers Theater All Year is the most comprehensive collection of Readers Theater scripts and resources I have found on the internet!...Thank you Carol for your leadership and vision and for making Readers Theater so accessible for teachers and parents.
Daniel Fiore, Elementary teacher/author What They Have Taught Me

I found the free readers theater online scripts, teaching tips, and curriculum teleseminars at Readers Theater All Year very inspirational to me. I used the Twelve Days of Christmas...Vacation script in my ESOL classes before Christmas break and my students all enjoyed it..
Lily T. Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

"> ..We did Squanto's Squash for the family on Thanksgiving and [my sons] participated and loved it. I am so excited about making this a major part of homeschooling. What a great way to learn!
Bethany P. Homeschooling Mom

> ...re: our script "The Earth Day Hen and Friends" I've used this! The kids love it. Thank you for sharing...It's just right for all levels in the class...Your free scripts are wonderful!...They learn so much from drama and reader's theatre...I see the shy ones gain confidence as they read. Fluency and prosody increases with reader's theatre...
Angela D., 3rd grade teacher

Let's Celebrate YOU!

 


Featured TpT Product (K-2)

***  Create fluent readers!

33 Fun Animal Riddle Partner Plays

* Over 300 annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans  

33 Animal Riddles

 

Featured TpT Product (3-5)

***  Encourage wise choices!

9 Aesop's Fables with Flexi-Curric™* for easy lesson plans

Aesop's small thumbnail

Featured TpT Product (3-8)

***  Sprinkle giggles into your day!

Make lesson plans easy with annotated curriculum links and a graphic organizer on character qualities.

image

 

Featured TPT Product (3-6)

*** Build positive character qualities! (3–6)

See how easy it can be to teach respect!  Enjoy this character-building Readers Theater script with lively discussions. American and Australian versions.

Square Save the Zoo